State to map properties in Weare to assist in emergency response

WEARE — White cars from the New Hampshire Division of Emergency Services and Communications will cruise around town starting today in order to create an accurate map of all the properties in town.

According to Town Administrator Naomi Bolton, employees from the state will travel to each structure in Weare, including homes and businesses, in order to determine the exact coordinates of each property to be used to create digital and paper maps. New roads and subdivisions will also be included, giving the state the most up-to-date information available.

.“We’ve never had this done before,” said Bolton. “We want to make sure that people know the white cars they’re seeing are from the state.”

Bolton said that the new maps will give dispatchers the exact locations of properties and make it easier for emergency responders, including police, fire and ambulance personnel to find homes and businesses when calls come in. After the state has completed the collection process, the information gathered will be verified with the town to ensure accuracy. The state will then generate digital and paper maps for the town using the gathered information...Along with posted street numbers, the new maps created using the coordinates will cut down on the amount of time it takes for emergency responders to reach homes, but houses or businesses that don’t have street numbers up will likely receive extra scrutiny by the state during the mapping process, said Bolton...If the addresses aren’t clearly posted on houses or mailboxes, state employees may need to verify information about the property, including whether the homes are occupied or using utilities. The state will include in its report a list of the properties that aren’t clearly numbered...“We need people to have their addresses posted,” said Bolton. “I’ve listened to the guys on the scanner trying to find homes where the addresses aren’t posted. You lose time when the numbers aren’t up.”..The mapping will begin today and continue until all of the properties in town have been accounted for. The state vehicles will be clearly marked, Bolton said, and each employee will have identification and information cards from the Division of Emergency Services and Communications...Bolton said the mapping is being done in cities and towns throughout the state.

“As technology moves forward, everything is going to be plotted,” she said.

But once the state has the current coordinates on file for every property in town, the division will only have to update its records periodically to account for new houses and subdivisions, she said...Anyone with questions or concerns about the mapping projects is asked to call the division at 527-2069.